Thursday, May 7, 2009

HAIR COLOR GUIDEWhen it comes to hair color, nothing's as simple as black and white. Lucky for you, we know a thing or two about getting the perfect hue!

Hair Color InspirationLike an artist,you need an idea before you set you brushto the canvass. Check here for styles and product tips.

Where to start..

How to Sync Your Streaks with Your Hairstyle

Hair Length

If you have....

Do this...

Short hair

If your coif stops around your chin, blend half-inch sections of color all around your head to add depth, enhancing the shape of your cut.

Shoulder-length hair

Play up the pieciest part of your cut, or create the illusion of layers with a few quarter-inch to half-inch streaks of color around your face.

Long locks

Weave in lots of skinny, 1/8-inch strips all over the top layer of your hair, which will accentuate the length of your tresses.

next step: What's your hair color now?

HOW TO PICK THE BEST COLOR FORBLOND,RED AND BROWN HAIR

How to Pick the Best All-Over Hue for

You

Hair Color

If you're....

Do this...

Blond

A warm gold or rich honey shade will brighten your base and help blend in any existing highlights. Do a monthly gloss treatment to add extra

sheen all over.

Redhead

Overly coppery hues can make a pale complexion seem ruddy, and if you have freckles, forget about it. Stick to more becoming shades of auburn and amber.

Brunette

Go two tones darker than your roots — otherwise you’ll end up with a wishy-washy brown. Deep chocolate and coffee shades add just the right amount of intensity.

HAIR COLOR TECHNIQUESGet tons of tips here:

Request these techniques when you're at the salon, or trythem out yourself!Here, you'll learn about:

Getting the perfect highlights

Enhancing your color

Professional-grade products

The differences between tints

Hidden Highlights

Like a lace-edged camisole that’s just barely glimpsed beneath your blouse, the latest hair-color technique is alluring without being too obvious. Instead of placing highlights right where you can see them, stylists weave them underneath the top layer of the hair. “It’s called slicing,” says Louise O’Connor, ow

ner of OC61 Salon in NYC. “And you can only really see the thin streaks when you flip your hair from side to side or pull it back. They add just enough sparkle and contrast to your cut.” Best of all,

you won’t be moaning about any glaring dark roots along your part in three weeks.

Tress-Tint Glossary

Picking an at-home color kit can be confusing. So we asked Garnier color expert Chuck Hezekiah for tips on going home with the formula that’s right for you.

Semipermanent color is the most goof-proof (it simply washes out after 6 to 12 shampoos). Keep in mind that it can only enhance or darken your natural hue, not lighten it. A good one: Clairol Herbal Essences Colorflirt Mousse, $5.99.

Demipermanent color lasts up to 28 shampoos. Since it has low levels of peroxide, it’s a bit harsher than semiperm versions, but go for it if you want to deepen your shade significantly (it isn’t strong enough to brighten it), like from medium brown to rich mahogany. Try L’Oréal ColorSpa Moisture Actif, $7.99.

Permanent color doesn’t wash out — ever. It can contain both ammonia and peroxide, so it can take you lighter or darker and allows you to make dramatic changes. The downside: These are the most damaging to your locks, so be sure your hair is healthy before using one. Try Garnier 100 Percent Color, $7.29.

HOPE THIS WILL HELP THOSE YOU ARE STILL ONFUSED ON WHAT HAIR COLOR TO CHOOSE..